Vigil honors ASU student killed in on-campus crash

Dozens of Bell’s peers and ASU faculty came out to tie balloons at the scene of the accident, shed tears with the family, hug them and share a word of comfort.
Rebecca Burylo/Advertiser

Family members mourn at a candlelight vigil was held May 5 at Alabama State University for student Demetrius Bell, killed Monday in an on-campus car crash at the site of the accident, the 800 block of South Jackson Street.(Photo: Rebecca Burylo)

Bell’s family said he was coming home from the store when the accident occurred.A sophomore at Alabama State University, Bell was killed in an on-campus car crash Monday. A candlelight vigil Thursday allowed family and friends to lay flowers beside the tree on Jackson Street where the car he was a passenger in crashed.

Dozens of Bell’s peers and ASU faculty came out to tie balloons at the scene of the accident, shed tears with the family, hug them and share a word of comfort.

Bell’s brother, Corregio, smiled when asked about his younger brother.

“He was way cooler than me,” he said. “He had such a big heart. It’s good to see he touched so many people, too.”

And while Bell initially had a difficult time deciding on a major in school, he eventually followed his brother’s footsteps and leaned toward mechanical engineering.

In high school, Bell competed in track and field and football and lived part of his years growing up in Greenville, where he still has family.

“He was just so goofy,” she said. “If you all knew Sherod like we knew him, he was always happy, always trying to help someone. He was so excited for his birthday and for everyone to get together. We want to thank everyone for coming out and loving him as much as we did and still do.”

One story the family shared was of their most recent family reunion to Gatlinburg, Tenn., when they said Bell was in disbelief when he heard that there were sharks being sold there. He became convinced they could bring one home.

They never did, his brother said, but it’s a story he said he wouldn’t forget.

He hoped to encourage students through their grief so that “good can come out of tragedy.”

(Photo: Rebecca Burylo)

“God can come and intercede on our behalf and ensure that we’re going to be OK and that we can cope with this,” said Parks, who is working with Montgomery Police Department to bring a driving safety program to campus over the summer in order to stress the dangers of driving under influence, distracted driving and not wearing a seat belt while driving.

Alcohol was cited as a contributing factor, and the driver of the vehicle was arrested Wednesday.

“There will be a grieving process, but we will come out OK,” Parks said.

ASU President Gwendolyn Boyd laid a gold and black wreath at the foot of the tree and extended her condolences to the family on behalf of ASU.

“When students come to Alabama State University, they come with great potential,” she said. “We don’t know God’s plan for our lives, but know each day that it is our responsibility to move forward in that plan.”

Bell will also be honored at ASU’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, along with another student, a faculty member and a staff member from ASU who also died this year. “We want to join hands and hearts as this family mourns the loss of Demetrius,” Boyd said.